Working medium for heat cycle and heat cycle system

ABSTRACT

A working medium for heat cycle includes 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene, and a hydrofluorocarbon. A content of the hydrofluorocarbon is from 1 to 60 mass % in the working medium for heat cycle. The working medium for heat cycle preferably further includes a hydrocarbon. The hydrofluorocarbon is preferably at least one of difluoromethane, difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, pentafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, heptafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane or heptafluorocyclopentane. A heat apparatus includes the working medium for heat cycle.

This application is a continuation of PCT Application No. PCT/JP2012/068387, filed on Jul. 19, 2012, which is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-160770 filed on Jul. 22, 2011. The contents of those applications are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a working medium for heat cycle and a heat cycle system employing the working medium.

BACKGROUND ART

Heretofore, as a working medium for heat cycle such as a refrigerant for a refrigerator, a refrigerant for an air conditioner, a working fluid for power generation system (such as exhaust heat recovery power generation), a working medium for a latent heat transport apparatus (such as a heat pipe) or a secondary cooling medium, a chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) such as chlorotrifluoromethane or dichlorodifluoromethane, or a hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) such as chlorodifluoromethane has been used. However, influences of CFCs and HCFCs over the ozone layer in the stratosphere have been pointed out, and their use is regulated at present.

Accordingly, as a working medium for heat cycle, a hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) which has less influence over the ozone layer, such as difluoromethane (HFC-32), tetrafluoroethane or pentafluoroethane, has been used. However, it has been pointed out that HFCs may cause global warming. Accordingly, development of a working medium for heat cycle which has less influence over the ozone layer and has a low global warming potential is an urgent need.

For example, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) used as a refrigerant for an automobile air conditioner has a global warming potential so high as 1,430 (100 years). Further, in an automobile air conditioner, the refrigerant is highly likely to leak out to the air e.g. from a connection hose or a bearing.

As a refrigerant which replaces HFC-134a, carbon dioxide and 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a) having a global warming potential of 124 (100 years) which is low as compared with HFC-134a, have been studied.

However, with carbon dioxide, the equipment pressure tends to be extremely high as compared with HFC-134a, and accordingly there are many problems to be solved in application to all the automobiles. HFC-152a has a range of inflammability, and has a problem for securing the safety.

As a working medium for heat cycle which has inflammability suppressed, has less influence over the ozone layer and has less influence over global warming, a hydrochlorofluoroolefin (HCFO) such as a hydrochlorofluoropropene, or a chlorofluoroolefin (CFO), which has a large proportion of halogen to suppress inflammability and has a carbon-carbon double bond which is easily decomposed by OH radicals in the air, is conceivable.

As a hydrochlorofluoropropene, for example, 1-chloro-3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (E) (HCFO-1233zd(E)) is known (Patent Document 1).

However, in a case where HCFO-1233zd(E) is used as a working medium for heat cycle, the cycle performance (efficiency) is insufficient.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: WO2010/077898

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention is to provide a working medium for heat cycle, which has inflammability suppressed, which has less influence over the ozone layer, which has less influence over global warming and which provides a heat cycle system excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency), and a heat cycle system whereby safety is secured and which is excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency).

Solution to Problem

The present invention provides a working medium for heat cycle (hereinafter sometimes referred to as working medium), which comprises 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (hereinafter referred to as CFO-1214ya).

The working medium of the present invention preferably further contains a hydrocarbon.

The working medium of the present invention preferably further contains a HFC.

The heat cycle system of the present invention employs the working medium of the present invention.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The working medium of the present invention comprises CFO-1214ya having a high proportion of halogen, whereby inflammability is suppressed. Further, since it comprises CFO-1214ya having a carbon-carbon double bond which is easily decomposed by OH radicals in the air, it has less influence over the ozone layer and has less influence over global warming. Further, since it comprises CFO-1214ya, it provides a heat cycle system excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency).

The heat cycle system of the present invention employs the working medium of the present invention having inflammability suppressed, whereby it will be one having safety secured.

Further, since it employs the working medium of the present invention excellent in the thermodynamic properties, it is excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency), whereby it is possible to reduce power consumption.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic construction view illustrating an example of a refrigerating cycle system.

FIG. 2 is a cycle diagram illustrating the state change of a working medium in a refrigerating cycle system on a temperature-entropy chart.

FIG. 3 is a cycle diagram illustrating the state change of a working medium in a refrigerating cycle system on a pressure-enthalpy chart.

FIG. 4 is a graph showing the change in the relative coefficient of performance based on HCFC-123 to the evaporation temperature with respect to each working medium in Ex 6.

FIG. 5 is a graph showing the change in the relative refrigerating capacity based on HCFC-123 to the evaporation temperature with respect to each working medium in Ex 6.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing the change in the condensation pressure to the evaporation temperature with respect to each working medium in Ex 6.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the change in the condensation pressure difference based on HCFC-123 to the evaporation temperature with respect to each working medium in Ex 6.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

<Working Medium>

The working medium of the present invention comprises 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene.

The working medium of the present invention may contain, as the case requires, another working medium which will be gasified or liquefied together with CFO-1214ya, such as a hydrocarbon or a HFC. Further, the working medium of the present invention may be used in combination with a component other than the working medium, to be used together with the working medium (hereinafter, a composition containing the working medium and a component other than the working medium will be referred to as a working medium-containing composition). The component other than the working medium may, for example, be a lubricating oil, a stabilizer, a leak detecting substance, a desiccating agent or other additives.

The content of CFO-1214ya is preferably at least 60 mass %, more preferably at least 70 mass %, further preferably at least 80 mass %, particularly preferably 100 mass %, in the working medium (100 mass %).

(Hydrocarbon)

The hydrocarbon is a working medium component which improves solubility of the working medium in a mineral lubricating oil.

The hydrocarbon has preferably from 2 to 5 carbon atoms, and may be linear or branched. It may specifically be propane, propylene, cyclopropane, butane, isobutane, pentane or isopentane. Particularly preferred are propane, butane and isobutane.

One of the hydrocarbons may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The content of the hydrocarbon is preferably from 1 to 40 mass %, more preferably from 2 to 10 mass %, in the working medium (100 mass %). When the hydrocarbon is at least 1 mass %, the solubility of the lubricating oil in the working medium will sufficiently be improved. When the hydrocarbon is at most 40 mass %, it has an effect to suppress inflammability of the working medium.

(HFC)

The HFC is a working medium component which improves the cycle performance (capacity) of a heat cycle system.

The HFC is preferably a HFC which has less influence over the ozone layer and which has less influence over global warming.

The HFC has preferably from 1 to 5 carbon atoms, and may be linear or branched. Specifically it may, for example, be difluoromethane, difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, pentafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, heptafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane or heptafluorocyclopentane. Particularly preferred is difluoromethane (HFC-32), 1,1-difluoroethane (HFC-152a), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134), 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane (HFC-134a) or pentafluoroethane (HFC-125), which has less influence over the ozone layer and which has less influence over global warming.

One of the HFCs may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The content of the HFC in the working medium (100 mass %) is preferably from 1 to 60 mass %. For example, in a case where the HFC is HFC-134a, it is possible to remarkably improve the refrigerating capacity without a decrease in the coefficient of performance, within a range of from 1 to 40 mass %. In the case of HFC-245fa, it is possible to remarkably improve the refrigerating capacity without a decrease in the coefficient of performance, within a range of from 1 to 40 mass %. In the case of HFC-125, it is possible to remarkably improve the refrigerating capacity without a substantial decrease in the coefficient of performance, within a range of from 1 to 60 mass %. In the case of HFC-32, it is possible to remarkably improve the refrigerating capacity without a decrease in the coefficient of performance, within a range of from 1 to 10 mass %. In the case of HFC-152a, it is possible to remarkably improve the refrigerating capacity without a decrease in the coefficient of performance, within a range of from 1 to 20 mass %. It is possible to control the HFC content depending upon the required properties of the working medium.

(Lubricating Oil)

As the lubricating oil to be used for the working medium-containing composition, a known lubricating oil used for the heat cycle system may be used.

The lubricating oil may, for example, be an oxygen-containing synthetic oil (such as an ester lubricating oil or an ether lubricating oil), a fluorinated lubricating oil, a mineral oil or a hydrocarbon synthetic oil.

The ester lubricating oil may, for example, be a dibasic acid ester oil, a polyol ester oil, a complex ester oil or a polyol carbonate oil.

The dibasic acid ester oil is preferably an ester of a C₅₋₁₀ dibasic acid (such as glutaric acid, adipic acid, pimelic acid, suberic acid, azelaic acid or sebacic acid) with a C₁₋₁₅ monohydric alcohol which is linear or has a branched alkyl group (such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol, pentanol, hexanol, heptanol, octanol, nonanol, decanol, undecanol, dodecanol, tridecanol, tetradecanol or pentadecanol). Specifically, ditridecyl glutarate, di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate, diisodecyl adipate, ditridecyl adipate or di(3-ethylhexyl) sebacate may, for example, be mentioned.

The polyol ester oil is preferably an ester of a diol (such as ethylene glycol, 1,3-propanediol, propylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,2-butandiol, 1,5-pentadiol, neopentyl glycol, 1,7-heptanediol or 1,12-dodecanediol) or a polyol having from 3 to 20 hydroxy groups (such as trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolbutane, pentaerythritol, glycerol, sorbitol, sorbitan or sorbitol/glycerin condensate) with a C₆₋₂₀ fatty acid (such as a linear or branched fatty acid such as hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid, undecanoic acid, dodecanoic acid, eicosanoic acid or oleic acid, or a so-called neo acid having a quaternary a carbon atom).

The polyol ester oil may have a free hydroxy group.

The polyol ester oil is preferably an ester (such as trimethylolpropane tripelargonate, pentaerythritol 2-ethylhexanoate or pentaerythritol tetrapelargonate) of a hindered alcohol (such as neopentyl glycol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, trimethylolbutane or pentaerythritol).

The complex ester oil is an ester of a fatty acid and a dibasic acid, with a monohydric alcohol and a polyol. The fatty acid, the dibasic acid, the monohydric alcohol and the polyol may be as defined above.

The polyol carbonate oil is an ester of carbonic acid with a polyol.

The polyol may be the above-described diol or the above-described polyol. Further, the polyol carbonate oil may be a ring-opening polymer of a cyclic alkylene carbonate.

The ether lubricating oil may be a polyvinyl ether oil or a polyoxyalkylene lubricating oil.

The polyvinyl ether oil may be one obtained by polymerizing a vinyl ether monomer such as an alkyl vinyl ether, or a copolymer obtained by copolymerizing a vinyl ether monomer and a hydrocarbon monomer having an olefinic double bond.

One of the vinyl ether monomers may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The hydrocarbon monomer having an olefinic double bond may, for example, be ethylene, propylene, various forms of butene, various forms of pentene, various forms of hexene, various forms of heptene, various forms of octene, diisobutylene, triisobutylene, styrene, α-methylstyrene or alkyl-substituted styrene. One of the hydrocarbon monomers having an olefinic double bond may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The polyvinyl ether copolymer may be either of a block copolymer and a random copolymer.

One of the polyvinyl ethers may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The polyoxyalkylene lubricating oil may, for example, be a polyoxyalkylene monool, a polyoxyalkylene polyol, an alkyl ether of a polyoxyalkylene monool or a polyoxyalkylene polyol, or an ester of a polyoxyalkylene monool or a polyoxyalkylene polyol. The polyoxyalkylene monool or the polyoxyalkylene polyol may be one obtained by e.g. a method of subjecting a C₂₋₄ alkylene oxide (such as ethylene oxide or propylene oxide) to ring-opening addition polymerization to an initiator such as water or a hydroxy group-containing compound in the presence of a catalyst such as an alkali hydroxide. Further, one molecule of the polyoxyalkylene chain may contain single oxyalkylene units or two or more types of oxyalkylene units. It is preferred that at least oxypropylene units are contained in one molecule.

The initiator may, for example, be water, a monohydric alcohol such as methanol or butanol, or a polyhydric alcohol such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, pentaerythritol or glycerol.

The polyoxyalkylene lubricating oil is preferably an alkyl ether or an ester of a polyoxyalkylene monool or polyoxyalkylene polyol. Further, the polyoxyalkylene polyol is preferably a polyoxyalkylene glycol. Particularly preferred is an alkyl ether of a polyoxyalkylene glycol having the terminal hydroxy group of the polyoxyalkylene glycol capped with an alkyl group such as a methyl group, which is called a polyglycol oil.

The fluorinated lubricating oil may, for example, be a compound having hydrogen atoms of a synthetic oil (such as the after-mentioned mineral oil, poly-α-olefin, alkylbenzene or alkylnaphthalene) substituted by fluorine atoms, a perfluoropolyether oil or a fluorinated silicone oil.

The mineral oil may, for example, be a naphthene mineral oil or a paraffin mineral oil obtained by purifying a lubricating oil fraction obtained by atmospheric distillation or vacuum distillation of crude oil by a purification treatment (such as solvent deasphalting, solvent extraction, hydrocracking, solvent dewaxing, catalytic dewaxing, hydrotreating or clay treatment) optionally in combination.

The hydrocarbon synthetic oil may, for example, be a poly-α-olefin, an alkylbenzene or an alkylnaphthalene.

One of the lubricating oils may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The content of the lubricating oil is not limited within a range not to remarkably decrease the effects of the present invention, varies depending upon e.g. the application and the form of a compressor, and is preferably from 10 to 100 parts by mass, more preferably from 20 to 50 parts by mass, based on the working medium (100 parts by mass).

(Stabilizer)

The stabilizer to be used for the working medium-containing composition is a component which improves the stability of the working medium against heat and oxidation.

The stabilizer may, for example, be an oxidation resistance-improving agent, a heat resistance-improving agent or a metal deactivator.

The oxidation resistance-improving agent and the heat resistance-improving agent may, for example, be N,N′-diphenylphenylenediamine, p-octyldiphenylamine, p,p′-dioctyldiphenylamine, N-phenyl-1-naphthyamine, N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, N-(p-dodecyl)phenyl-2-naphthylamine, di-1-naphthylamine, di-2-naphthylamine, N-alkylphenothiazine, 6-(t-butyl)phenol, 2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol, 4-methyl-2,6-di-(t-butyl)phenol or 4,4′-methylenebis(2,6-di-t-butylphenol). One of the oxidation resistance-improving agents and the heat resistance-improving agents may be used alone, or two or more of them may be used in combination.

The metal deactivator may, for example, be imidazole, benzimidazole, 2-mercaptobenzothiazole, 2,5-dimercaptothiadiazole, salicylysine-propylenediamine, pyrazole, benzotriazole, tritriazole, 2-methylbenzamidazole, 3,5-dimethylpyrazole, methylenebis-benzotriazole, an organic acid or an ester thereof, a primary, secondary or tertiary aliphatic amine, an amine salt of an organic acid or inorganic acid, a heterocyclic nitrogen-containing compound, an amine salt of an alkyl phosphate, or a derivative thereof.

The content of the stabilizer is not limited within a range not to remarkably decrease the effects of the present invention, and is preferably at most 5 mass %, more preferably at most 1 mass %, in the working medium-containing composition (100 mass %).

(Leak Detecting Substance)

The leak detecting substance to be used for the working medium-containing composition may, for example, be an ultraviolet fluorescent dye, an odor gas or an odor masking agent.

The ultraviolet fluorescent dye may be known ultraviolet fluorescent dyes as disclosed in e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,249,412, JP-A-10-502737, JP-A-2007-511645, JP-A-2008-500437 and JP-A-2008-531836.

The odor masking agent may be known perfumes as disclosed in e.g. JP-A-2008-500437 and JP-A-2008-531836.

In a case where the leak detecting substance is used, a solubilizing agent which improves the solubility of the leak detecting substance in the working medium may be used.

The solubilizing agent may be ones as disclosed in e.g. JP-A-2007-511645, JP-A-2008-500437 and JP-A-2008-531836.

The content of the leak detecting substance is not particularly limited within a range not to remarkably decrease the effects of the present invention, and is preferably at most 2 mass %, more preferably at most 0.5 mass % in the working medium-containing composition (100 mass %).

(Other Compound)

The working medium of the present invention and the working medium-containing composition may contain a C₁₋₄ alcohol or a compound used as a conventional working medium, refrigerant or heat transfer medium (hereinafter the alcohol and the compound will generally be referred to as other compound).

As such other compound, the following compounds may be mentioned.

Fluorinated ether: Perfluoropropyl methyl ether (C₃F₇OCH₃), perfluorobutyl methyl ether (C₄F₉OCH₃), perfluorobutyl ethyl ether (C₄F₉OC₂H₅), 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl ether (CF₂HCF₂OCH₂CF₃, manufactured by Asahi Glass Company, Limited, AE-3000), etc.

The content of such other compound is not limited within a range not to remarkably decrease the effects of the present invention, and is preferably at most 30 mass %, more preferably at most 20 mass %, particularly preferably at most 15 mass % in the working medium-containing composition (100 mass %).

(Advantageous Effects)

As described above, the working medium of the present invention comprises CFO-1214ya having a high proportion of halogen, whereby inflammability is suppressed.

Further, since it comprises CFO-1214ya having a carbon-carbon double bond which is easily decomposed by OH radicals in the air, it has less influence over the ozone layer and has less influence over global warming.

Further, since it comprises CFO-1214ya, it provides a heat cycle system excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency).

<Heat Cycle System>

The heat cycle system of the present invention is a system employing the working medium of the present invention.

The heat cycle system may, for example, be a Rankine cycle system, a heat pump cycle system, a refrigerating cycle system or a heat transport system.

(Refrigerating Cycle System)

Now, as an example of the heat cycle system, a refrigerating cycle system will be described.

The refrigerating cycle system is a system wherein in an evaporator, a working medium removes heat energy from a load fluid to cool the load fluid thereby to accomplish cooling to a lower temperature.

FIG. 1 is a schematic construction view illustrating an example of a refrigerating cycle system of the present invention. A refrigerating cycle system 10 is a system generally comprising a compressor 11 to compress a working medium vapor A to form a high temperature/high pressure working medium vapor B, a condenser 12 to cool and liquefy the working medium vapor B discharged from the compressor 11 to form a low temperature/high pressure working medium C, an expansion valve 13 to let the working medium C discharged from the condenser 12 expand to form a low temperature/low pressure working medium D, an evaporator 14 to heat the working medium D discharged from the expansion valve 13 to form a high temperature/low pressure working medium vapor A, a pump 15 to supply a load fluid E to the evaporator 14, and a pump 16 to supply a fluid F to the condenser 12.

In the refrigerating cyclic system 10, the following cycle is repeated.

(i) A working medium vapor A discharged from an evaporator 14 is compressed by a compressor 11 to form a high temperature/high pressure working medium vapor B.

(ii) The working medium vapor B discharged from the compressor 11 is cooled and liquefied by a fluid F in a condenser 12 to form a low temperature/high pressure working medium C. At that time, the fluid F is heated to form a fluid F′, which is discharged from the condenser 12.

(iii) The working medium C discharged from the condenser 12 is expanded in an expansion valve 13 to form a low temperature/low pressure working medium D.

(iv) The working medium D discharged from the expansion valve 13 is heated by a load fluid E in an evaporator 14 to form a high temperature/low pressure working medium vapor A. At that time, the load fluid E is cooled and becomes a load fluid E′, which is discharged from the evaporator 14.

The refrigerating cycle system 10 is a cycle comprising an adiabatic isentropic change, an isenthalpic change and an isobaric change, and the state change of the working medium may be shown as in FIG. 2, when it is represented on a temperature-entropy chart.

In FIG. 2, the AB process is a process wherein adiabatic compression is carried out by the compressor 11 to change the high temperature/low pressure working medium vapor A to a high temperature/high pressure working medium vapor B. The BC process is a process wherein isobaric cooling is carried out in the condenser 12 to change the high temperature/high pressure working medium vapor B to a low temperature/high pressure working medium C. The CD process is a process wherein isenthalpic expansion is carried out by the expansion valve 13 to change the low temperature/high pressure working medium C to a low temperature/low pressure working medium D. The DA process is a process wherein isobaric heating is carried out in the evaporator 14 to have the low temperature/low pressure working medium D returned to a high temperature/low pressure working medium vapor A.

In the same manner, the state change of the working medium may be shown as in FIG. 3, when it is represented on a pressure-enthalpy chart.

(Moisture Concentration)

There is a problem of inclusion of moisture in the heat cycle system. Inclusion of moisture may cause freezing in a capillary tube, hydrolysis of the working medium or the lubricating oil, deterioration of materials by an acid component formed in heat cycle, formation of contaminants, etc. Particularly, the above-described ether lubricating oil, ester lubricating oil and the like have extremely high moisture absorbing properties and are likely to undergo hydrolysis, and inclusion of moisture decreases properties of the lubricating oil and may be a great cause to impair the long term reliability of a compressor. Further, in an automobile air conditioner, moisture tends to be included from a refrigerant hose or a bearing of a compressor used for the purpose of absorbing vibration. Accordingly, in order to suppress hydrolysis of the lubricating oil, it is necessary to suppress the moisture concentration in the heat cycle system. The moisture concentration of the working medium in the heat cycle system is preferably at most 100 ppm, more preferably at most 20 ppm.

As a method of suppressing the moisture concentration in the heat cycle system, a method of using a desiccating agent (such as silica gel, activated aluminum or zeolite) may be mentioned. The desiccating agent is preferably a zeolite desiccating agent in view of chemical reactivity of the desiccating agent and the working medium, and the moisture absorption capacity of the desiccating agent.

The zeolite desiccating agent is, in a case where a lubricating oil having a large moisture absorption as compared with a conventional mineral lubricating oil is used, preferably a zeolite desiccating agent containing a compound represented by the following formula (1) as the main component in view of excellent moisture absorption capacity. M_(2/n)O.Al₂O₃.xSiO₂.yH₂O  (1) wherein M is a group 1 element such as Na or K or a group 2 element such as Ca, n is the valence of M, and x and y are values determined by the crystal structure. The pore size can be adjusted by changing M.

To select the desiccating agent, the pore size and the fracture strength are important.

In a case where a desiccating agent having a pore size larger than the molecular size of the working medium is used, the working medium is adsorbed in the desiccating agent and as a result, chemical reaction between the working medium and the desiccating agent will occur, thus leading to undesired phenomena such as formation of non-condensing gas, a decrease in the strength of the desiccating agent, and a decrease in the adsorption capacity.

Accordingly, it is preferred to use as the desiccating agent a zeolite desiccating agent having a small pore size. Particularly preferred is sodium/potassium type A synthetic zeolite having a pore size of at most 3.5 Å. By using a sodium/potassium type A synthetic zeolite having a pore size smaller than the molecular size of the working medium, it is possible to selectively adsorb and remove only moisture in the heat cycle system without adsorbing the working medium. In other words, the working medium is less likely to be adsorbed in the desiccating agent, whereby heat decomposition is less likely to occur and as a result, deterioration of materials constituting the heat cycle system and formation of contaminants can be suppressed.

The size of the zeolite desiccating agent is preferably from about 0.5 to about 5 mm, since if it is too small, a valve or a thin portion in pipelines may be clogged, and if it is too large, the drying capacity will be decreased. Its shape is preferably granular or cylindrical.

The zeolite desiccating agent may be formed into an optional shape by solidifying powdery zeolite by a binding agent (such as bentonite). So long as the desiccating agent is composed mainly of the zeolite desiccating agent, other desiccating agent (such as silica gel or activated alumina) may be used in combination.

The proportion of the zeolite desiccating agent based on the working medium is not particularly limited.

(Non-Condensing Gas Concentration)

If non-condensing gas is included in the heat cycle system, it has adverse effects such as heat transfer failure in the condenser or the evaporator and an increase in the working pressure, and it is necessary to suppress its inclusion as far as possible. Particularly, oxygen which is one of non-condensing gases reacts with the working medium or the lubricating oil and promotes their decomposition.

The non-condensing gas concentration is preferably at most 1.5 vol %, particularly preferably at most 0.5 vol % by the volume ratio based on the working medium, in a gaseous phase of the working medium.

(Advantageous Effects)

In the heat cycle system as described above, the working medium of the present invention having inflammability suppressed, is used, whereby it becomes one having safety secured.

Further, since the working medium of the present invention excellent in the thermodynamic properties is used, it is excellent in the cycle performance (efficiency). Further, since the efficiency is excellent, it is possible to reduce the power consumption.

EXAMPLES

Now, the present invention will be described in further detail with reference to Examples. However, it should be understood that the present invention is by no means restricted to such specific Examples.

(Evaluation of Refrigerating Cycle Performance)

The refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated as the cycle performance (the capacity and the efficiency) in a case where a working medium was applied to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Evaluation was carried out by setting the average evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14, the average condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12, the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12, and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14, respectively. Further, it was assumed that there was no pressure loss in the equipment efficiency and in the pipelines and heat exchanger.

The refrigerating capacity Q and the coefficient of performance n are obtained from the following formulae (2) and (3) using the enthalpy h in each state (provided that a suffix attached to h indicates the state of the working medium). Q=h _(A) −h _(D)  (2) η=refrigerating capacity/compression work=(h _(A) −h _(D))/(h _(B) −h _(A))  (3)

The coefficient of performance means the efficiency in the refrigerating cycle system, and a higher coefficient of performance means that a higher output (refrigerating capacity) can be obtained by a smaller input (electric energy required to operate a compressor).

Further, the refrigerating capacity means a capacity to cool a load fluid, and a higher refrigerating capacity means that more works can be done in the same system. In other words, it means that with a working medium having a larger refrigerating capacity, the desired performance can be obtained with a smaller amount, whereby the system can be downsized.

The thermodynamic properties required for calculation of the refrigerating cycle performance were calculated based on the generalized equation of state (Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation) based on the law of corresponding state and various thermodynamic equations. If a characteristic value was not available, it was calculated employing an estimation technique based on a group contribution method.

Example 1

The refrigerating cycler performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated in a case where CFO-1214ya, 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane (HCFC-123), 1,1,1,3,3-pentafluoropropane (HFC-245fa) or HFC-134a was applied as a working medium to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

The evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14, the condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12, the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12, and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14, were as shown in Table 1.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HFC-245fa, the relative performance (each working medium/HFC-245fa) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HFC-245fa was obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Relative performance (based on HFC-245fa) [—] CFO-1214ya HCFC-123 HFC-245fa HFC-134a Super- Coeffi- Coeffi- Coeffi- Coeffi- Evaporation Condensing Degree of cooling cient of Refriger- cient of Refriger- cient of Refriger- cient of Refriger- temperature temperature superheat degree perfor- ating perfor- ating perfor- ating perfor- ating [° C.] [° C.] [ C.] [° C.] mance capacity mance capacity mance capacity mance capacity 0 50 5 5 1.036 0.325 1.038 0.643 1.000 1.000 0.939 4.124 10 60 5 5 1.043 0.343 1.044 0.651 1.000 1.000 0.917 3.707 20 70 5 5 1.052 0.361 1.051 0.660 1.000 1.000 0.886 3.324 30 80 5 5 1.064 0.380 1.060 0.670 1.000 1.000 0.841 2.952

From the results in Table 1, it was confirmed that CFO-1214ya has a high coefficient of performance, although its refrigerating capacity is low as compared with HFC-245fa.

Example 2

The refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated in a case where a working medium comprising CFO-1214ya and a HCFC or a HFC as identified in Table 2 or 3 was applied to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Evaluation was carried out by setting the average evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14 to be 0° C., the average condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12 to be 50° C., the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12 to be 5° C., and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14 to be 5° C.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HFC-245fa, the relative performance (each working medium/HFC-245fa) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HFC-245fa was obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in Table 2 or 3.

TABLE 2 Relative Relative Relative performance (based performance (based performance (based on HFC-245fa) [—] on HFC-245fa) [—] on HFC-245fa) [—] Coeffi- Coeffi- Coeffi- CFO- HFC- cient of Refriger- CFO- HCFC- cient of Refriger- CFO- HFC- cient of Refriger- 1214ya 134a perfor- ating 1214ya 245fa perfor- ating 1214ya 125 perfor- ating [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity 0 100 0.939 4.124 0 100 1.000 1.000 0 100 0.746 6.255 20 80 0.950 2.661 20 80 0.838 1.087 20 80 40 60 40 60 0.993 0.887 40 60 1.064 2.926 60 40 1.086 1.441 60 40 1.048 0.706 60 40 1.105 2.064 80 20 1.023 0.843 80 20 1.058 0.525 80 20 100 0 1.036 0.325 100 0 1.036 0.325 100 0 1.036 0.325

TABLE 3 Relative performance (based on Relative performance (based on HFC-245fa) [—] HFC-245fa) [—] CFO-1214ya HFC-32 Coefficient of Refrigerating CFO-1214ya HFC-152a Coefficient of Refrigerating [mass %] [mass %] performance capacity [mass %] [mass %] performance capacity 0 100 0.862 10.387 0 100 0.981 3.937 20 80 20 80 0.960 2.773 80 20 80 20 1.073 0.988 90 10 1.045 0.832 90 10 1.027 0.630 100 0 1.036 0.325 100 0 1.036 0.325

From the results in Tables 2 and 3, it was confirmed that the refrigerating capacity of CFO-1214ya can be improved without bringing about a remarkable decrease in the coefficient of performance by adding a HCFC or a HFC to CFO-1214ya.

Example 3

The refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated in a case where a working medium comprising CFO-1214ya and a hydrocarbon as identified in Table 4 was applied to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Evaluation was carried out by setting the average evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14 to be 0° C., the average condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12 to be 50° C., the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12 to be 5° C., and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14 to be 5° C.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HFC-245fa, the relative performance (each working medium/HFC-245fa) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HFC-245fa was obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in Table 4.

TABLE 4 Relative Relative Relative performance (based performance (based performance (based on HFC-245fa) [—] on HFC-245fa) [—] on HFC-245fa) [—] Coeffi- Coeffi- Coeffi- CFO- cient of Refriger- CFO- cient of Refriger- CFO- cient of Refriger- 1214ya Butane perfor- ating 1214ya Isobutane perfor- ating 1214ya Propane perfor- ating [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity [mass %] [mass %] mance capacity 0 100 1.000 1.621 0 100 0.975 2.229 0 100 0.917 5.528 20 80 0.996 1.438 20 80 0.966 1.889 20 80 0.876 4.049 40 60 0.998 1.223 40 60 0.977 1.551 40 60 0.931 3.206 60 40 1.018 0.998 60 40 1.018 1.241 60 40 1.024 2.528 80 20 1.046 0.726 80 20 1.027 0.867 80 20 90 10 0.991 0.537 90 10 0.976 0.598 90 10 92 8 0.984 0.494 92 8 0.968 0.540 92 8 94 6 94 6 0.967 0.483 94 6 100 0 1.036 0.325 100 0 1.036 0.325 100 0 1.036 0.325

From the results in Table 4, it was confirmed that the refrigerating capacity of CFO-1214ya can be improved by adding a hydrocarbon to CFO-1214ya.

Example 4

The refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated in a case where as a working medium, CFO-1214ya, HCFC-123 or HCFO-1233zd(E) was applied to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

Evaluation was carried out by setting the average evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14 to be form 0° C. to +50° C., the average condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12 to be the average evaporation temperature +50° C., the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12 to be 5° C., and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14 to be 5° C.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HCFC-123, the relative performance (each working medium/HCFC-123) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HCFC-123 was obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in Table 5.

TABLE 5 Relative performance (based on HCFC-123) [—] Coefficient of performance Refrigerating capacity CFO-1214ya 0.51-0.61 1.00-1.01 HCFC-123 1 1 HCFO-1233zd(E) 1.27-1.43 0.98-1.0 

From the results in Table 5, it was confirmed that as compared with HCFO-1233zd(E), CFO-1214ya shows a refrigerating capacity of about 50%, although there is no substantial difference in the coefficient of performance.

Example 5

The refrigerating cycler performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) was evaluated in a case where HCFO-1233zd(E) was applied as a working medium to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

The evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14, the condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12, the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12, and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14, were as shown in Table 1.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HFC-245fa, the relative performance (each working medium/HFC-245fa) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HFC-245fa was obtained. The results are shown in Table 6.

TABLE 6 Relative performance (based on HFC-245fa) [—] Super- HCFO-1233zd(E) Evaporation Condensing Degree of cooling Coefficient Refrig- temperature temperature superheat degree of erating [° C.] [° C.] [° C.] [° C.] performance capacity 0 50 5 5 1.033 0.917 10 60 5 5 1.037 0.904 20 70 5 5 1.043 0.895 30 80 5 5 1.049 0.889

From the results in Table 6, it was confirmed that as compared with HCFO-1233zd(E), CFO-1214ya has no substantial difference in the coefficient of performance.

Example 6

The refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) and the condensation pressure of the working medium in the condenser 12 were evaluated in a case where as a working medium, CFO-1214ya, HCFC-123 or HCFO-1233zd(E) was applied to a refrigerating cycle system 10 shown in FIG. 1.

The evaporation temperature of the working medium in an evaporator 14 was changed by 10° C. between 0 to 100° C. The condensing temperature of the working medium in a condenser 12 was set to be the average evaporation temperature +50° C. Each of the supercooling degree of the working medium in the condenser 12 and the degree of superheat of the working medium in the evaporator 14 was set to be 5° C.

Based on the refrigerating cycle performance of HCFC-123, the relative performance (each working medium/HCFC-123) of the refrigerating cycle performance (the refrigerating capacity and the coefficient of performance) of each working medium based on HCFC-123 was obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5.

Further, the condensation pressure of the working medium in the condenser 12 and the condensation pressure difference based HCFC-123 were obtained. The results of each working medium are shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.

Here, the condensation pressure of the working medium in the condenser 12 can be obtained from the condensing temperature. Specifically, as a saturated vapor pressure corresponding to the condensing temperature, it was calculated based on the generalized equation of state (Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation) based on the law of corresponding state and various thermodynamic equations.

The results in FIG. 4 indicate the following.

CFO-1214ya has the highest coefficient of performance under any temperature condition, and especially as the evaporation temperature rises, the rise of the coefficient of performance increases. On the other hand, HCFO-1233zd(E) has the lowest coefficient of performance among the three working media, and along with the rise of the evaporation temperature, the proportion of the decrease in the coefficient of performance increases.

The results in FIG. 5 indicate the following.

CFO-1214ya is poor in the refrigerating capacity among the three working media, but along with the rise of the evaporation temperature, the relative ratio increases so that the difference becomes small at a high temperature. On the other hand, HCFO-1233zd(E) has the highest refrigerating capacity among the three working media, but along with the rise of the evaporation temperature, the relative ratio decreases.

The results in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 indicate the following.

CFO-1214ya has the lowest condensation pressure among the three working media, and especially at the evaporation temperature of 100° C., its condensation pressure value becomes lower by as much as about 800 kPa than HCFC-123. On the other hand, HCFO-1233zd(E) has the highest condensation pressure among the three working media, and at the evaporation temperature of 100° C., it shows a condensation pressure as high as about 2,500 kPa. Further, the difference in the condensation pressure between CFO-1214ya and HCFO-1233zd(E) becomes as much as about 1,200 kPa.

From a series of the evaluation results in FIGS. 4 to 7, it can be said that CFO-1214ya has a high coefficient of performance in high evaporation temperature and condensing temperature cycle, and at the same time, a decrease in the refrigerating capacity can be suppressed to be low, and especially, since the condensation pressure is low, the pressure resistance of installation can be suppressed to be low. Thus, CFO-1214ya can be said to be extremely effective as a working medium for high temperature.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The working medium of the present invention is useful as a working medium for heat cycle such as a refrigerant for a refrigerator, a refrigerant for an air conditioner, a working fluid for power generation system (such as exhaust heat recovery power generation), a working medium for a latent heat transport apparatus (such as a heat pipe) or a secondary cooling medium.

REFERENCE SYMBOL

10: Refrigerating cycle system 

What is claimed is:
 1. A working medium for heat cycle, comprising: 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and a hydrofluorocarbon, a content of the hydrofluorocarbon being from 1 to 60 mass % in the working medium for heat cycle.
 2. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 1, further comprising a hydrocarbon.
 3. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 2, wherein the hydrocarbon is contained in a content of from 1 to 40 mass % in the working medium for heat cycle.
 4. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 2, wherein the hydrocarbon is propane, butane or isobutane.
 5. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 1, wherein 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is contained in a content of at least 60 mass % in the working medium for heat cycle.
 6. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrofluorocarbon is at least one of difluoromethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or pentafluoroethane.
 7. The working medium for heat cycle according to claim 1, wherein the hydrofluorocarbon is at least one of difluoromethane, difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, pentafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, heptafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane or heptafluorocyclopentane.
 8. A heat apparatus comprising: a working medium which comprises: 1,1-dichloro-2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene; and a hydrofluorocarbon, a content of the hydrofluorocarbon being from 1 to 60 mass % in the working medium.
 9. The heat apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising: an evaporator to evaporate the working medium; a condenser to condense the working medium; a compressor disposed between the evaporator and the condenser to compress the working medium; and an expansion valve disposed between the condenser and the evaporator to expand the working medium.
 10. The heat apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the working medium further comprises a hydrocarbon.
 11. The heat apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hydrocarbon is contained in a content of from 1 to 40 mass % in the working medium.
 12. The heat apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the hydrocarbon is propane, butane or isobutane.
 13. The heat apparatus according to claim 8, wherein 1,1-dichloro -2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene is contained in a content of at least 60 mass % in the working medium.
 14. The heat apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hydrofluorocarbon is at least one of difluoromethane, 1,1-difluoroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethane, 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane or pentafluoroethane.
 15. The heat apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the hydrofluorocarbon is at least one of difluoromethane, difluoroethane, trifluoroethane, tetrafluoroethane, pentafluoroethane, pentafluoropropane, hexafluoropropane, heptafluoropropane, pentafluorobutane or heptafluorocyclopentane. 